On a Galaxy Tab S9, Tab S10 Ultra or Tab A9+ that will not join Wi-Fi, Samsung's article starts with the tablet: restart it, update the software, and check the Wi-Fi settings. Turn Wi-Fi on from Quick settings, remove the network by pressing and holding it and reconnect, and if it works in Safe mode, remove recently installed apps. If it still fails, reset Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings, then check the router: see whether other devices see the network, update the router firmware, and power-cycle the router. Samsung's last step is Samsung Members diagnostics, available on Galaxy devices with the app. Wikipedia lists dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax and Bluetooth 5.3 for the Tab S9.
Differential
Likely causes of “Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, S10 Ultra and A9+ will not connect to Wi-Fi or keeps disconnecting”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
A temporary software fault
What separates it Wi-Fi will not connect after days of uptime because of a temporary software fault
How to confirm Restart, or hold the buttons more than 7 seconds if it freezes, as Samsung says
- 2
A saved network in a bad state
What separates it The tablet joined this network before and now refuses to connect to it
How to confirm Press and hold the network, forget it and reconnect
- 3
A recently installed app
What separates it Wi-Fi works in Safe mode because of a recently installed app
How to confirm Remove apps in the order they were installed and restart
- 4
Outdated software
What separates it Wi-Fi drops after a router change because of outdated software
How to confirm Update the software, by Wi-Fi or Smart Switch on a PC
- 5
A router fault or setting
What separates it Other devices also fail or cannot see the network
How to confirm Update the router firmware and power-cycle it, as Samsung describes
- 6
A hardware fault
What separates it No network works anywhere, at home or elsewhere, and mobile data may be affected as well
How to confirm Run Samsung Members diagnostics and book service, since a hardware fault needs a technician
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether a VPN or recently installed app is present
Try in this order
0 of 6 completedRestart the tablet
ReversibleRestart the tablet, and hold the buttons for more than 7 seconds if it freezes.
Forget and rejoin the network
ReversibleForget and rejoin the network, by pressing and holding the network name, forgetting it and entering the password again.
Test in Safe mode
ReversibleTest in Safe mode, and if Wi-Fi works there, remove the apps that you installed recently.
Restart the router
ReversibleRestart the router, by disconnecting its power cable, waiting a little and reconnecting it, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Reset Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings
ReversibleReset Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings, and only after the steps above have been tried, and then test again to see whether it helped.
Run Samsung Members diagnostics
ReversibleRun Samsung Members diagnostics, to check the Wi-Fi status, and book service if it fails.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Wireless
- Tab S9: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax dual band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot and Bluetooth 5.3, per Wikipedia. The S10 Ultra and A9+ follow Samsung's same steps.
- Cellular
- The Tab S9 5G models use a nano-SIM and a Qualcomm Snapdragon X73 modem, per Wikipedia; the Tab A9+ uses a Snapdragon 695 5G chip.
- Part numbers
- No part number is needed. Samsung identifies the model in Settings, About tablet.
- Tools and supplies
- The Wi-Fi password, a flashlight to read the router's label, another device to test with and access to the router's power.
- Repair cost
- Wi-Fi faults are software or router faults first.
- Other models this page answers
- These steps also fit the Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If diagnostics show a Wi-Fi hardware fault, contact Samsung or a service center
- !If the network is not detected on other devices, contact the router's maker, as Samsung says
- !If a strong password or managed network will not join, ask its manager for the settings
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Restart, software update, reconnecting the network, Safe mode, network reset, router checks and Samsung Members diagnostics.
Tab S9 8,400 mAh battery, 45 W USB Power Delivery PPS, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 11-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, microSDXC up to 1 TB, IP68, S Pen and Wi-Fi with Bluetooth 5.3.
Tab S10 Ultra 14.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 11,200 mAh battery, 45 W fast charging, Dimensity 9300+, IP68 and dedicated microSDXC slot.
Tab A9+ 11-inch TFT LCD, 7,040 mAh battery, Snapdragon 695 5G, 64 to 256 GB storage and its update commitment of three OS upgrades and four years of security updates.
Exact questions
Common questions
Does the tablet need the router's 5 GHz band?+
Wikipedia lists dual-band Wi-Fi for the Tab S9, so it can use 2.4 or 5 GHz. If one band drops, join the other under the same router settings, and keep the router's firmware current, as Samsung advises.
Why does Wi-Fi fail only after a software update?+
Samsung says outdated or freshly changed software can affect Wi-Fi. Restart, remove and re-add the network, and if it still fails run Samsung Members diagnostics, which checks the Wi-Fi status directly.
Should I write down my Wi-Fi password before a reset?+
Yes. Samsung's network reset clears saved networks, so keep the password to hand, along with any Bluetooth accessories you will need to pair again, such as the keyboard cover or S Pen accessories.
What Wi-Fi do these tablets support?+
Wikipedia lists dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax and Bluetooth 5.3 for the Tab S9 line. Samsung's steps are the same across models.
Should I update the router firmware?+
Samsung's article says to make sure it is on the latest version, and to contact the router's maker if it cannot be updated.
What is the network reset for?+
Samsung lists resetting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings after reconnecting fails. It erases saved networks and paired devices.
Can a strong password matter?+
Samsung recommends a strong password on the router and avoiding simple, easily shared ones. An incorrect password is one of its causes for a failed join.
Does Safe mode help Wi-Fi?+
Yes. Samsung says that if Wi-Fi works normally in Safe mode, a recently installed app may be the cause.
How do I exit Safe mode?+
Restart the tablet, per Samsung's article.
What is Samsung Members diagnostics?+
A test inside the Samsung Members app on Galaxy devices that checks Wi-Fi status, run as Samsung's last step.
Will an update use mobile data?+
Samsung says updating wirelessly without Wi-Fi may use mobile data if the download exceeds your allowance.
Can my case block Wi-Fi?+
Do all three tablets share the same steps?+
Yes. Samsung's article covers all Galaxy devices, with menu names that may vary by model and software version.
What if the tablet does not detect any network?+
Follow the same steps and then run diagnostics; Samsung says unable to detect networks can come from software, settings or hardware.